The popular manga "Kingdom" began serialization in "Weekly Young Jump" in 2006. It's so popular that it has been adapted into an anime, game, and live-action film, but what kind of person is its author? In this article, we'll take a look at the author, Hara Yasuhisa, and learn about his educational background, his debut work, his assistants, and more.
Who is the author, Hara Yasuhisa?
Hara Yasuhisa, a native of Saga Prefecture, aspired to become a manga artist during his university days. A manga he submitted while still a student won the Promising Young Artist Award in the 36th Chiba Tetsuya Awards, suggesting his talent was already there. However, he didn't immediately debut, and instead worked as a professional for three years before making his debut as a manga artist in 1999 with the work "Otomatsu" in Bessatsu Young Magazine. His first serialized work, "Kingdom," began serialization in Weekly Young Jump in 2006.
About "Kingdom"
When "Kingdom" was serialized, Hara-sensei was 31 years old, and he himself has said that his three years of work experience were put to good use in this work. His experiences, such as forming a small team with coworkers and having a good boss, are reflected in the character of Go, a character in "Kingdom," and in the character's portrayal of a respectable general. While "Kingdom" is now a popular work, it seems to have been less popular at the beginning of its serialization, and Hara-sensei himself has said that this was a cause for concern.
His master is Takehiko Inoue!?
After his series was selected for serialization in "Weekly Young Jump," Hara, at the request of the editorial department, trained under "SLAM DUNK" author Takehiko Inoue for four months. When "Kingdom" wasn't gaining popularity, he apparently received guidance from Inoue about the size of Shin's eyes. Starting around volume 4, you can see how Shin's eyes become larger and more powerful. It seems he and Inoue are still on good terms, and we've found information that they played basketball together.
His assistants are all famous manga artists!?
As was the case with Hara-sensei, new manga artists who have won the Chiba Tetsuya Award often work as assistants to artists serializing their works in magazines. Many of Hara-sensei's assistants are well-known manga artists, including Sui Ishida of "Tokyo Ghoul," Masaki Kasahara of "Gunjo Senki," Toshimitsu Matsubara of "Rikudou," and Shikako of "Manchurian Opium Squad." This kind of master-disciple relationship is a defining characteristic of manga artists.
Media Mix Information
The popular series "Kingdom" has been adapted into a wide range of media. As of April 2022, the manga has surpassed its 15th anniversary and has published 64 volumes. The anime's popularity is evident, as the first series aired in 2012 and the fourth series is scheduled to begin airing in April 2022. Furthermore, the second live-action film is scheduled for release in July 2022, further accelerating the momentum of "Kingdom."
Summary
What did you think? We've covered Yasuhisa Hara, the author of the popular manga "Kingdom." Many readers may have been surprised by his unexpected manga mentor and impressive list of past assistants. Between stories, the manga often features updates on Hara's life and stories about his assistants, so be sure to check those out. Hara has also appeared on TV shows like "Tuesday Surprise" and "Jonetsu Tairiku," so if you want to learn more about his workspace and the manga he actually draws, be sure to check those out.
